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NEWARK, N.J.—Moments after Dave Bolland scored the game-winning goal last week to clinch the Stanley Cup for the Chicago Blackhawks, his destiny was sealed.

The Leafs had been after Bolland for some time. Leafs GM Dave Nonis texted a congratulatory message to Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman and resumed talks for Bolland.

Those talks came to fruition at the draft on Sunday, with the Leafs sending three picks for the gritty 27-year-old who may find himself playing a bigger role with the Leafs than he ever had as a third- and fourth-liner with the Blackhawks.

“I’m excited to put on a Maple Leafs jersey in front of ACC fans. Pretty much lost for words,” said the Mimico native, shortly after the deal was announced. “I’m sad to leave Chicago. You always want to play in one city all your career. But it’s a business.

“But it’s great to come back to where my whole hockey career began.”

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Bolland’s cellphone went just as crazy with family and friends wishing him well in Toronto as it did when he scored the Cup-winning goal.

“It’s been crazy,” said Bolland. “Scoring the goal and now this.”

Nonis, too, was gleeful. Although Tyler Bozak’s future with the team — he’s an unrestricted free agent come Friday — may be cloudier.

“He’s a Randy Carlyle type of player,” Nonis said of Bolland. “He can play up and down the lineup. He’s got skill. He can play with real good players. He’s got grit and can play against real good players.”

Bolland has been a winner wherever he’s been. He won the Memorial Cup as a member of the London Knights. He won a world junior title with Team Canada. And he’s been a big part of two Stanley Cup championships with the Blackhawks.

“He does have that pedigree,” said Nonis “Part of that is being in the right place, part of that is being the right type of player. Usually, if you’re on multiple championship teams, it’s because you provide something.”

The Leafs sent picks 51 and 177 in Sunday’s draft to Chicago as well as a fourth-rounder next season for Bolland. |He has one year left on a contract that will pay him $3.375 million (all figures U.S.) next year. He had seven goals and seven assists in 35 games this season.

“One of the positives of the deal is that he has a fairly cap-friendly number,” said Nonis. “It works well for us. We still have some flexibility to move pieces around.”

Bolland certainly provides tons of grit and hard work. But Nonis is looking beyond his body of work in the NHL, noting that his numbers in junior hockey were spectacular. Bolland had 57 goals and 73 assists in 2005-06, his last year in junior. He managed 37 goals in 2003-04 an 34 in 2004-05, playing with the likes of Corey Perry.

He then fit into a support role in Chicago, playing behind Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Michal Handzus.

“I think that’s where he’s been slotted,” said Nonis. “If you look at his junior numbers, they’re exceptional. Randy (Carlyle) won’t pigeon-hole him as a third-line centre. He’ll use him in all areas.

“He’ll probably be put in a more prominent role with us than he was in Chicago.”

That has to make Bozak uncomfortable. Talks with Bozak’s camp continue, but the two sides remain $1 million to $1.5 million apart on an annual basis.

“We wouldn’t rule out signing Tyler at all,” said Nonis. “We have things we can do to make room. Bozak is an important part to our team. If we can find a way to get him signed, we will. Nothing has changed in that regard.”

Nonis said he was working on other deals — especially one that would open up some cap space — but didn’t expect anything else to come to fruition for a day or two.

Between adding goalie Jonathan Bernier and now Bolland, Nonis has addressed two of his main concerns.

“It’s a start,” said Nonis. “We think there are more things we hope to do. Whether we can before now and September remains to be seen. We’ll try to remain active,” said Nonis. “We feel if we get everybody signed, we’ll be in a perfectly good position to start the season.

“It doesn’t mean we’re not going to shore up other areas. From our standpoint, we’re not incredibly deep down the middle. That’s why it was important to get him.”

At 27, Bolland is right around the same age as the core of players who got the Leafs back to the playoffs last season. Bolland is well aware of the optimism surrounding the Leafs.

“It’s a team that never quits,” said Bolland. “They have some young talent in (Nazem) Kadri and the goalies. It’s one team that’s coming up.

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